Rawhide Boys Ranch
Rawhide Boys Ranch, now known as Rawhide Youth Services, is a faith-based Wisconsin nonprofit providing residential care, education, and mental-health services for at-risk youth.
Last updated August 26, 2026
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Overview
Rawhide Boys Ranch is a faith-based nonprofit youth-services organization based near New London, Wisconsin. Established in 1965 by John and Jan Gillespie, it began as a residential ranch for boys experiencing serious behavioral, family, or social difficulties. The founders purchased approximately 714 acres along the Wolf River and initially admitted eight boys. Over time, the organization developed a wider service model that combined residential treatment, schooling, transitional living, family involvement, outpatient counseling, vocational experience, and community support. The organization’s early public profile was closely associated with Green Bay Packers quarterback Bart Starr and his wife, Cherry Starr. The Starrs supported the Gillespies’ plans, helped lead fundraising, and mobilized members of the 1966 Packers team to assist with the ranch’s mortgage. A raffle of a 1968 Chevrolet Corvette donated by Bart Starr generated more than the campaign’s target and became an important early example of celebrity-supported fundraising for the organization. Starr later helped publicize Rawhide’s vehicle-donation program and remained associated with the ranch for decades. Rawhide expanded its residential and educational capacity through the 1980s and 1990s. Its school was renamed Starr Academy in 1991, additional residential houses were opened, and a foster-home network was introduced to support boys transitioning from the ranch. In 1997, the organization created About Face, a four-month military-style discipline program. After a 1999 barn fire, donations raised for rebuilding also supported an equine-assisted therapy initiative, using structured interactions among residents, counselors, families, and horses to address communication and relationship problems. In 2003, Rawhide added the Academy Program for boys who were not yet court-supervised but were considered at risk of entering more serious trouble. Fundraising and social-enterprise activities have been central to Rawhide’s operating model. Beginning in 1983, the organization accepted donated cars, trucks, boats, and real estate. The program grew from a local collection effort into a network involving dealers and drop-off locations across Wisconsin and later the Chicago area. Donated vehicles have been inspected and prepared at Rawhide facilities before being sold through dealer auctions or online channels, with proceeds supporting youth programs. The vehicle centers also provide practical work experience. The organization broadened its clinical services in the 2000s. A group home dedicated in 2004 provided a more autonomous residential setting without traditional house parents. Rawhide opened an outpatient clinic in Green Bay in 2008, followed by clinics in Menasha and on the New London campus in 2009. Its services have been supported by referring counties, parents, and private donations, while staff and volunteers have also contributed labor to local community projects. Rawhide’s history includes both public recognition and controversy. It received a 1991 Thousand Points of Light citation and other community honors. At the same time, its faith-based model and preference for traditional opposite-sex married couples as residential caregivers became the subject of a Wisconsin civil-rights dispute in the 1980s. In a separate and serious matter, a former counselor was convicted in 1997 of repeatedly sexually assaulting two boys who had been residents. The organization is nevertheless described in reference material as an active provider of residential programs for at-risk and troubled boys and outpatient mental-health services for youth and families.
History
Rawhide Boys Ranch was established in 1965 when John and Jan Gillespie acquired roughly 714 acres along the Wolf River near New London, Wisconsin. They envisioned a group-home and ranch setting for boys facing serious personal or family difficulties. The first intake consisted of eight boys. In 1967, Rawhide added seasonal summer programs that eventually served as many as 300 boys annually. During its early years, the ranch also operated a fire department that served both the property and the surrounding Town of Caledonia. Residents participated in related activities, although they were transported separately from fire equipment during responses. The organization received major early assistance from Bart and Cherry Starr. After the Gillespies contacted the Starrs about their similar interest in helping troubled boys, Bart Starr became involved in fundraising for Rawhide’s mortgage. Seventeen other members of the 1966 Green Bay Packers team participated in a campaign that raised $20,000. Starr donated a 1968 Chevrolet Corvette that he had received for his Super Bowl performance, and a raffle of the car brought in more than $40,000. Starr subsequently supported Rawhide’s fundraising and vehicle-donation efforts, including national publicity through letters and television commercials. In recognition of his long service, Rawhide presented him with the AMVETS Humanitarian Award in 2003. The vehicle-donation program, launched in 1983, became a major source of program funding and organizational growth. Rawhide accepted cars, trucks, boats, and real estate. Although the initial expectation was only one vehicle per week, donations reached approximately 20 vehicles per week within six months. By 1986, annual vehicle and real-estate donations were estimated at about 3,500. In 1991, Rawhide replaced a largely direct collection model with a dealer drop-off network exceeding 250 Wisconsin locations. The network reached the Chicago area in 1993. Annual donations exceeded 7,000 vehicles by 1995, reached about 8,000 in 1996, and approximately 11,000 cars, trucks, boats, and property donations by 1997. Vehicles were prepared at Rawhide facilities and sold through wholesale auctions or online channels. Residential and educational programming expanded steadily. Rawhide was treating about 20 boys annually in 1984 and had capacity for 30 by 1991. The school was renamed Starr Academy in 1991. A fourth residence opened in 1993, increasing capacity to 40 boys per year, and the first foster home opened in the Appleton area in 1994 to help residents transition from the ranch. A fifth residence followed in 1996. In 1997, Rawhide introduced About Face, a four-month program emphasizing military-style structure and discipline. A Christmas Eve barn fire in 1999 killed four horses. Donations intended for reconstruction exceeded the rebuilding cost, enabling Rawhide to establish an equine-assisted program. The program used therapeutic riding and guided interactions involving residents, counselors, parents, and horses. In 2003, Rawhide launched the Academy Program, its first program aimed at boys who were not under court supervision but were considered at risk of escalating into more serious trouble. The program focused on high-school completion and preparation for post-secondary education. Rawhide also developed more independent residential and clinical services. In 2004, Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle dedicated Cornerstone Group Home, an eight-person residence designed without house parents and intended to give residents greater autonomy. The organization opened an outpatient clinic in Green Bay in 2008 and added clinics in Menasha and on the New London-area campus in 2009. Funding has come from referring counties, parents, and private donations, including proceeds from donated property and vehicles. Residents and volunteers have also participated in practical work and community service projects. The organization has received civic and philanthropic recognition, including selection in 1991 as one of the recipients of George H. W. Bush’s Thousand Points of Light citations. Neenah designated a Rawhide Appreciation Day in 2002, citing the organization’s work with young people and community projects. Rawhide’s history has also involved controversy. Its faith-based employment and caregiving model came into conflict with Wisconsin’s 1982 LGBT anti-discrimination law, contributing to a 1987 legislative proposal informally called the Rawhide Act. That proposal was replaced by a narrower measure concerning religious hiring preferences. In 1997, a former counselor was convicted of repeated sexual assaults against two boys who had lived at the ranch. The organization’s later public description centers on residential youth services, outpatient mental-health care, family support, and programs intended to help young people lead healthier and more responsible lives.
- 2009
Outpatient network expands
[1]Additional outpatient clinics open in Menasha and on the Rawhide campus.
- 2008
First outpatient clinic opens
[1]Rawhide opens an outpatient clinic in Green Bay.
- 2004
Cornerstone Group Home opens
[1]An eight-person residence opens with a model designed to provide residents more autonomy than traditional house-parent homes.
- 2003
Academy Program begins
[1]Rawhide launches a program for boys at risk of serious trouble but not yet under court supervision.
- 1999
Barn fire leads to equine-assisted program
[1]After a barn fire kills four horses, surplus rebuilding donations help establish an equine-assisted therapy program.
- 1997
About Face and expanded vehicle fundraising
[1]Rawhide introduces the About Face program and reports approximately 11,000 annual car, truck, boat, and real-estate donations.
- 1993
Residential capacity expands
[1]A fourth residence opens, increasing the organization’s ability to serve boys in residential care.
- 1991
Starr Academy name adopted
[1]Rawhide renames its school Starr Academy in recognition of Bart and Cherry Starr’s support.
- 1983
Vehicle-donation program launches
[1]Rawhide begins accepting donated vehicles, boats, and real estate to fund youth services.
- 1967
Summer programs and fire department begin
[1]Rawhide introduces summer-only programs and operates a fire department serving the ranch and surrounding community.
Products and positioning
A faith-based nonprofit youth-services provider combining residential care, education, counseling, family support, practical work experience, and community-funded philanthropy.
Residential youth services · 1965
Residential Youth Programs
Structured residential programs for boys described as at risk or troubled. Services combine housing, counseling, education, behavioral support, family participation, and practical responsibilities in a ranch-based setting.
Education
Starr Academy
Rawhide’s educational program, renamed Starr Academy in 1991, supports residents working toward high-school completion and, in relevant programs, preparation for further education.
Nonprofit fundraising service · 1983
Vehicle Donation Program
A donation and resale program accepting cars, trucks, boats, and real estate. Donated assets are processed through Rawhide facilities, dealer auctions, or online sales, with proceeds supporting youth services and some work experience for residents.
Behavioral-development program · 1997
About Face
A four-month program introduced in 1997 that used a military-style structure and discipline model as part of Rawhide’s behavioral and personal-development programming.
Therapeutic program · 1999
Equine Assisted Program
A therapy program developed after the 1999 barn fire, using therapeutic horseback riding and guided relationships among young people, counselors, parents, and horses to support communication and family relationships.
Early-intervention youth service · 2003
Academy Program
A program for boys not yet under court supervision but considered to be moving toward serious trouble. Its stated goals include high-school graduation and preparation for post-secondary education.
Mental-health services · 2008
Outpatient Mental-Health Services
Outpatient counseling and mental-health services for at-risk youth and their families, delivered through clinics opened in Green Bay, Menasha, and at the New London-area campus.
Controversies
Marketing campaigns
- 1983Vehicle Donation Fundraising Campaign
Wisconsin, United States · Chicago area, United States
Rawhide promoted donations of cars, trucks, boats, and real estate, later using dealer drop-off locations and national publicity associated with Bart Starr.
Outcome. The program grew from a small local operation into a major source of funding, reaching thousands of annual donations.
- 1966Packers Mortgage Fundraising Campaign
Wisconsin, United States
Bart Starr and 17 other members of the 1966 Green Bay Packers helped Rawhide raise money toward its mortgage. Starr’s donated Corvette was raffled to generate additional support.
Outcome. The team campaign raised $20,000, while the Corvette raffle generated more than $40,000.
Brand decisions
2008
Expand into outpatient mental-health careStrategyBackground
Rawhide sought to serve at-risk youth and families beyond its residential campus.
Action taken
It opened an outpatient clinic in Green Bay, followed by additional locations in 2009.
Aftermath
The organization broadened from a primarily residential ranch model into a multi-site youth and family mental-health provider.
1997
Introduce About FaceProduct launchBackground
Rawhide was expanding its residential programming for boys with behavioral and social difficulties.
Action taken
The organization launched a four-month military-style discipline program called About Face.
1991
Rename the school Starr AcademyStrategyBackground
Bart and Cherry Starr had provided sustained fundraising and public support for Rawhide.
Action taken
Rawhide renamed its school Starr Academy.
Aftermath
The renamed school became part of the organization’s expanded residential and educational model.
Sources2 sources
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